Disaster and Emergency News and Resources for Housing Counselors

COVID-19

Visit the HUD.gov Coronavirus page for the latest news and COVID-19 updates from HUD.

President Donald J. Trump Directs FEMA Support Under Emergency Declaration for COVID-19

On March 13, 2020, President Trump declared a nationwide emergency pursuant to Sec. 501(b) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C. 5121-5207 (the “Stafford Act”). This increases federal support to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in its role as the lead federal agency for the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic response. As a result of the President’s decisive, unprecedented action, FEMA is directed to assist state, local, tribal, territorial governments and other eligible entities with the health and safety actions they take on behalf of the American public.

Read the full emergency declaration.

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Measuring Disaster Preparedness with 2017 AHS Data

In this leadership message from HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R), director of housing and demographic analysis Shawn Bucholtz discusses the 2017 American Housing Survey (AHS) results as they relate to disaster preparedness. According to the survey, there are disparities in the level of preparedness between households in different geographic regions, households of different age groups, and renter verses owner households. The AHS began asking questions about preparedness in 2013 and revised the questions with assistance from FEMA in 2017.

Read the full article about Measuring Disaster Preparedness with 2017 AHS Data.

Housing Counseling Disaster Resources

HUD Resources

• Frequently Asked Questions on Disaster Recovery
   
• Granting Immediate Foreclosure Relief
   
• Making Insurance Available for Both Mortgages and Home Rehabilitation: 203(k) Rehab Mortgage Insurance
   
• Post-Disaster Healthy Housing Resources page
  • Homeowner’s and Renter’s Guide to Mold Cleanup after Disasters (English | Spanish)
  • Mold: Worker and Employer Guide to Hazards and Recommended Controls (English | Spanish)
     
• Section 203(h) Making Mortgage Insurance Available for Disaster Victims

Other Organizations' Resources

• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB):
  • Preparing, Recovering, and Rebuilding after Disasters and Emergencies (English | Spanish)
  • What to know if you are facing foreclosure after a natural disaster (English | Spanish)
  • Your reverse mortgage after a natural disaster (English | Spanish)
     
• Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA): Mortgage Help for Homeowners Affected by Hurricanes
   
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):
  • Emergencies and Disasters: Save for the Unexpected - This webinar shares strategies on how to save for unexpected events. It also provides financial tips, tools, and resources for individuals, communities, and community organizations.
     
  • Publication One (Pub 1) - Individuals and organizations are invited to read FEMA’s handbook to better understand FEMA’s mission and role in order to work together to carry out an effective system of emergency management.
     
  • FEMA Emergency Financial First Aid Kit (EFAK) - The nonprofit organization HOPE Coalition America, in partnership with FEMA, created the EFAK to help individuals and families collect and organize critical financial, medical, and household contact information.
     
• Housing Assistance Council (HAC): Rural Voices - HAC’s quarterly magazine is a national publication with information that local groups need. Each issue of Rural Voices focuses on a topic important to rural communities, with articles by local rural housing professionals from around the country.
   
• Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA): Disaster Recovery: A Resource for Homeowners
   
• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB): Keeping Safe During Disaster Cleanup and Recovery
   
• NeighborWorks:
  • Recovery from Natural Disasters
  • Navigating the Road to Recovery
     
• U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): Rural Development Disaster Assistance

Disaster Recovery Trainings

For upcoming housing counseling trainings, check the Housing Counseling Training Digest, updated weekly.

Past

• Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program Basics Webinar
   
• Coping with Disaster PTSD 2018 Webinar
   
• Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Toolkit Overview and Demonstration Webinar
   
• Flood Insurance with FEMA Webinar

For a complete list of Housing Counseling Disaster Recovery Webinars, visit Housing Counseling Webinar Archive: Select Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Section.

Recent FEMA Declarations

Read the 2019 and 2020 disaster declarations made by FEMA where individual assistance is offered:

Disaster	Incident Period	Declaration Date
Tennessee Severe Storms, Tornadoes, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4476)	March 3, 2020	March 5, 2020
South Dakota Severe Storms, Tornadoes, and Flooding (DR-4469)	September 9-26, 2019	November 18, 2019
Texas Tropical Storm Imelda (DR-4466)	September 17-23, 2019	October 4, 2019
Texas Severe Storms and Flooding (DR-4454)	June 24-25, 2019	July 17, 2019
Ohio Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslide (DR-4447)	May 27-29, 2019	June 18, 2019
Arkansas Severe Storms and Flooding (DR-4441)	May 21 - June 14, 2019	June 8, 2019
South Dakota Severe Winter Storm, Snowstorm, and Flooding (DR-4440)	March 13 - April 26, 2019	June 7, 2019
Oklahoma Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Tornadoes, and Flooding (DR-4438)	May 7 - June 9, 2019	June 1, 2019
Iowa Severe Winter Storm and Flooding (DR-4421)	March 12 - June 15, 2019	March 23, 2019
Nebraska Severe Winter Storm, Straight-line Winds, and Flooding (DR-4420)	March 9 - April 1, 2019	March 21, 2019

For a complete list of FEMA Declarations, visit the FEMA webpage.

2018 Major Disasters

Hawaii Volcanic Eruption and Earthquakes (DR-4366) and Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides (DR-4365)

• FHA Disaster-Related Policy Waiver Issued for Presidentially-Declared Major Disaster Area on the Big Island of Hawaii
• FEMA Declarations:
  • Hawaii Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides (DR-4365)
  • Hawaii Kilauea Volcanic Eruption And Earthquakes (DR-4366)

Hurricane Florence

• FEMA Florence Resource Page
• Fannie Mae Reminds Homeowners and Servicers of Mortgage Assistance Options for Areas Affected by Hurricane Florence
• Freddie Mac Confirms Disaster Relief Policies as Hurricane Florence Approaches
• FEMA Declarations:
  • North Carolina Hurricane Florence (DR-4393)
  • North Carolina Hurricane Florence (EM-3401)
  • South Carolina Hurricane Florence (EM-3400)

2017 Major Disasters

California Fires

• Fannie Mae Reminds Homeowners and Servicers of Mortgage Assistance Options for Areas Affected by the California Wildfires
• Freddie Mac Mortgage Relief Amid California Wildfires
• FHA Disaster-Related Policy Waiver for Four Additional Counties in Presidentially-Declared Major Disaster Areas in California
• FEMA Declarations:
  • California Wildfires (DR-4344)
  • California Wildfires, Flooding, Mudflows, And Debris Flows (DR-4353)

Hurricane Harvey

• News and Announcements:
  • President Donald J. Trump Approves Texas Disaster Declaration
  • Housing industry gears up to face Hurricane Harvey
  • HUD Announces Disaster Assistance for Victims of Hurricane Harvey
• FEMA Harvey Resource Page
• SBA Disaster Loans and Details for People and Businesses Affected by Hurricane Harvey
• Hurricane Harvey and General Disaster Resources from the Counselor’s Corner
• Fannie Mae Reminds Homeowners and Servicers of Mortgage Assistance Options for Gulf Coast Area Impacted by Hurricane Harvey
• Freddie Mac Confirms Disaster Relief Policies as Hurricane Harvey Approaches Texas
• IRS Help for Victims of Hurricane Harvey
• FEMA Declarations:
  • Texas Hurricane Harvey (DR-4332)
  • Louisiana Tropical Storm Harvey (EM-3382)

Hurricane Irma

• News and Announcements:
  • President Donald J. Trump Approves Florida Disaster Declaration
  • President Donald J. Trump Approves U.S. Virgin Islands Disaster Declaration
  • President Donald J. Trump Approves Puerto Rico Disaster Declaration
  • President Donald J. Trump Approves Georgia Disaster Declaration
  • HUD Announces Disaster Assistance for Georgia Storm Victims
  • HUD Announces Disaster Assistance for Puerto Rico Storm Victims
• SBA Disaster Loans and Details for People and Businesses Affected by Hurricane Irma
• Fannie Mae Reminds Homeowners and Servicers of Mortgage Assistance Options for Gulf Coast Area Impacted by Hurricane Irma
• FEMA Irma Resource Page
• Freddie Mac Confirms Disaster Relief Policies as Hurricane Irma Approaches Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands and U.S. Mainland
• IRS Help for Victims of Hurricane Irma
• FHA Issues Waiver for Property Inspections in Irma-Affected Areas
• FEMA Declarations:
  • Puerto Rico Hurricane Irma (DR-4336)
  • Florida Hurricane Irma (DR-4337)
  • Seminole Tribe of Florida Hurricane Irma - Seminole Tribe Of Florida (DR-4341)

Hurricane Maria

• News and Announcements:
  • President Donald J. Trump Approves Puerto Rico Disaster Declaration
  • President Donald J. Trump Approves U.S. Virgin Islands Disaster Declaration
  • HUD Announces Disaster Assistance for Puerto Rico Storm Victims
  • HUD Announces Disaster Assistance for U.S. Virgin Islands Storm Victims
• FEMA Maria Resource Page
• Freddie Mac Mortgage Assistance for Hurricane Maria
• FHA Disaster-Related Policy Waiver for All Municipalities in Presidentially-Declared Major Disaster Areas in Puerto Rico Impacted by Hurricane Maria
• FEMA Declarations:
  • Virgin Islands Hurricane Maria (DR-4340)
  • Puerto Rico Hurricane Maria (EM-3391)

Hurricane Nate

• Fannie Mae Reminds Homeowners and Servicers of Mortgage Assistance Options for Areas Impacted by Hurricane Nate
• FEMA Declarations:
  • Florida Hurricane Nate (EM-3395)
  • Alabama Hurricane Nate (EM-3394)
  • Mississippi Hurricane Nate (EM-3393)